The Billy Pig is a long, difficult course in the Billygoat tradition. Billygoat-style races differ from regular orienteering in that are mass-start, following is explicitly allowed, and it is generally allowed to skip one control or to pick which of two optional "forked" controls to visit. This means navigation is required, and people following without navigating often fail to visit all the required controls.
Some other annual events in the Billygoat tradition include the Golden Goat (California), Rocky Mountain Goat (usually Colorado or Wyoming), Bubba Goat (rotates among clubs in the southeast including Alabama, Georgia, Florida and the Carolinas), the Possum Trot (Kansas City Area) and some just called Billygoat or similar.
Often a shorter version of the course is also offered, with names such as "Junior Goat", "The Kid", or in OCIN's case, "The Piglet".
Billy Pig IX January 3, 2010
Miami University, Oxford, Ohio
Billy Pig 13.3 km, Piglet 6.4 km
Results of Billy Pig IX, January 3, 2010
Billy Pig VIII January 1, 2007
Hueston Woods, Oxford, Ohio
Billy Pig 12.5 km, Piglet 7.5 km
Results of Billy Pig VIII, January 1, 2007
Billy Pig VII January 28, 2006
Miami Whitewater Forest, Harrison, Ohio
Billy Pig 12.9 km, Piglet 7.5 km
Results of Billy Pig VII, January 28, 2006
Billy Pig VI January 2, 2005
Mounds State Recreation Area, Brookville, Indiana
Billy Pig 11 km, Piglet 6 km
Results of Billy Pig VI, January 2, 2005
Billy Pig V November 8, 2003
McFarlan Woods & Mt. Airy Forest, Cincinnati, Ohio
Billy Pig 12.8 - 14.5 km, Piglet 6.0 - 6.6 km
Results of Billy Pig V, November 8, 2003
Billy Pig IV November 17, 2002
Fort Ancient State Historic Site, Lebanon, Ohio
Billy Pig 12.5 km, Piglet 7.5 km
Results from the 2002 Billy Pig at Fort Ancient
Report from the 2002 Billy Pig by Eric Buckley
Billy Pig III November 19, 2001
Miami Whitewater Forest, Harrison,
Ohio
Steve Vaughan, Director
The Billy Pig
12.5 km, 560 m. climb, 23 controls
Columns below show:
finish place, total time,
split time at control #12, control which was skipped,
forks (A or B) for 5, 10
and 15, competitor name, age and home club.
1 1:45:50
0:45:51 skip 11 5A, 10A, 15A
Eric Buckley 38
SLOC
2 2:10:40
0:58:15 skip 13 5A, 10B, 15B
Pat Meehan 47
OCIN
3 2:16:30
0:55:15 skip 06 5B, 10A, 15B
Mike Minium 41
OCIN
4 2:21:45
1:01:00 skip 17 5A, 10B, 15B
Matt Bond
41 MVOC
5 2:27:30
1:02:00 skip 14 5A, 10B, 15B
Bob Huebner 54
COO
6 2:46:35
1:01:00 skip 08 5A, 10A, 15B
Margie Huseman 20 OCIN
(1st female)
7 2:53:20
1:10:00 skip 18 5A, 10B, 15B
Jim Trautmann 28
8 2:56:55
1:16:58 skip 13 5B, 10B, 15B
Steve Barnhart, Jeni Sheldon 37, 27
MVOC
9 3:40:00
1:25:00 skip 22 5B, 10B, 15B
Josh Berna
20 MVOC
10 4:06:25 1:50:50
skip 22 5B, 10A, 15B Larry Berna
41 MVOC
11 4:59:30 2:15:00
skip 17 5B, 10B, 15B Frank Baukert
33 ICO
lost card
Jim Dill
59 ICO
The Piglet 2001
7.5 km, 365 m. climb, 16 controls
1 1:10:00
0:53:00 skip 08 5A, 10B
Jon Rauschenbach 45
OCIN
2 1:11:24
0:53:00 skip 08 5B, 10B
Bill Swift
53 OCIN
3 1:20:55
0:58:30 skip 11 5A, 10A
Warren Mandrell 45
OCIN
4 1:46:35
??? skip 08
5A, 10B Erick Lebreton
48 OCIN
5 1:48:30
??? skip 07
5A, 10A Vincent Hand
47 OCIN
6 2:02:15
1:28:00 skip 07 5A, 10B
Dick Arnett
55 OCIN
7 2:03:45
1:28:00 skip 07 5A, 10B
Bob Frey
53 OCIN
8 2:28:30
1:54:00 skip 11 5B, 10B
Bob Isburgh
42 OCIN
9 2:33:40
1:59:00 skip 14 5B, 10B
Claire Dell
59 OCIN (1st female)
10 2:55:45 ???
skip 11 5A, 10B Michael & Stacy
16
11 3:14:25 2:23:00
skip 11 5A, 10B Dan Dell
62 OCIN
12 3:36:00 ???
skip 07 5A, 10A Shannon & Morgan
16
DNF
Laura & Robbie
16
DNF
Katie & Matt
16
Billy Pig II
December 16, 2000
Caesar Creek State Park, Waynesville,
Ohio
Director: Steve Vaughan
The Billy Pig
15 km
3:12:52 SMOC
Richard Waldo
3:19:45 MVOC
Matt Bond
3:37:45
Aaron Rourke and Joe Garland
3:38:30 OCIN
Mike Minium
3:42:00 OCIN
Pat Meehan
6:55:00 OCIN
David Crane
smart enough to quit early:
Carl Sack, Bill Swift,
Steve Barnhart, Dennis Elston
The Piglet
6.6 km
1:21:00 OCIN
Warren Mandrell
1:56:00 OLOU
Dan Mattingly
From The Event Director:
With the recent adventure racing fad, I have often said that orienteering is the key skill to know in adventure racing. Let’s face it, it doesn’t matter how much strength and endurance you have if you can’t find your way. In my mind orienteering is adventure racing on a small and reasonable scale. The 2000 Billy Pig proves that.
I knew we were going to be in trouble by the weather forecast. We had just had our first measurable snowfall earlier in the week, but that was soon to change with warmer temperatures (40 degrees), and rain. Rain began to fall in earnest at 10 pm Friday night and didn’t stop until after 2 pm Saturday (after most everyone was finished). The rain never gave up. It turned babbling brooks and dry ditches into raging torrents. Unfortunately there were a number of streams to cross. In fact those who had top finishes did so due to swimming, literally, (either intentionally or unintentionally).
As I was creating the course for this Billy Pig, I kept in mind the notes from the “Official” Billy Goat guidelines: “Try not to set a course where the best men will finish in 90 minutes, but the juniors, F55s, and novices will all perish halfway through”. Today many of the area’s finest orienteers would perish.
I admire everyone who even came out on this day! Of 18 runners signed up to run only 5 didn’t show up (I probably would have been one of them). Pouring rain and 40 degrees sent off the 13 runners who started the Pig and Piglet. Two runners came from Michigan (they left at 3:45 AM), and one from Louisville.
I truly admire everyone who came out and ran. Chris Jacobs came out for the first time and ran white and then yellow. Since he really enjoyed orienteering in this weather I think he will enjoy this sport for life. Welcome to the Club, Chris! Another brave soul from MVOC, Lisa Price, also came out for a little orienteering practice in the rain.
I really need to extend a special thank-you to Greg Sack who manned the halfway stop and started the Piglets (from a remote start). He guarded the food, and checked everyone in as they passed the mid-way stop. I couldn’t have done it without his help. Also, thanks to Ellie Kennedy who braved the weather to help. Ellie waited around until close to noon, to complete the yellow course and pick up controls. Actually Ellie ended up picking up both white and yellow! Anyone who has directed orienteering meets before will acknowledge what a great help this is, especially in this weather.
There was only one more little issue of the day. That would be David Crane. It seems David didn’t understand the 5 hour deadline for finishing. Greg reported David was 3 hours at the midpoint so we knew it would be close if he was going to make the 5 hour deadline. I don’t think David knew about the deadline, and he may have been the smartest one, as he chose to hike the Billy Pig at a more comfortable pace. But because of high water obstacles David emerged from the woods almost 7 hours after the start, and about 5 minutes before a call to Search and Rescue. David was fine, and in great spirits, heading for the last control (which I had already removed). So David finished the race 2 hours after the deadline. We were just glad he was safe and having fun. Also thanks to Bill Swift and Mike Minium (who had to be tired) for checking back in after they ate and helping look for David and waiting until he came out of the woods.
I hope everyone who participated stayed healthy. I didn’t. I got sick the next day!
Take nothing away from these competitors who started any of these races, no matter where or if they finished. Conditions were hard to say the least. The first half of the Billy Pig alone was 8.4k, and almost everyone that dnf’ed, visited all but two or three controls. But then again it’s not supposed to be easy, everyone is not supposed to finish…that’s why it ‘s the Billy Pig!
Assorted Random Thoughts:
Pat Meehan:
(debating the date for
the next Pig) Personally I find Saturday October 27 too early to
hold the Billy Pig! Maybe mid November at the earliest.
Carl Sack:
Are you kidding?! I d**n near froze out
there last Saturday!!! (and you
didn't make things better with your "oh, did
you find it yet?" trick, you b*****d!)
Mike Minium:
In the continuing debate over Billy Pig
dates, one thing Pat did not
mention is that late October is still in the
HS Cross Country Season, the
weekend before state championship. Thus
having an event that Saturday
would automatically eliminate Pat from
competing (He coaches a girl's HS
team). That might also impact
other potential competitors. Thoughts?
A major plus for the Sat, Oct 27 date,
Steve Vaughan has agreed to
set (for the 2nd year in a row), probable
park would be Miami-Whitewater.
Pat Meehan:
Mike is absolutely correct. I have
not enjoyed any event as much as I
enjoyed the Billy Pig. For two years
in a row I had a marvelous time. The
cold, rain and roaring streams added a level
of challenge I cannot find
elsewhere.
I do not want to miss next years event.
However, Coaching the 14th ranked
girls CC team in the state comes first for
me. October would rule me out.
I would not be happy.
Carl, I hope you did not lose much time
to my feign and ploy. I actually
learned this maneuver from our friend Tom
Murphy, the master of the "deer in
the head lights" look.
It might please you to know that Immediately
prior to our encounter I was in
second place and destined to win my second
Billy Pig. While I attempted to
foil your odds of besting me I was already
into an error of 180 degree
nature. I vaguely recall overshooting
the control and doubling back about
75 meters. Thus I was heading into the control
from the wrong direction and
I was too brain dead to realize that I was
exiting the same. This was
compounded by my impromtu devious act. I was
running as fast as I dare to
lead you away from the control. Unbeknownst
to me I was running an unknown
distance in an uncertain direction. To this
day I do not know where I was.
I do know that I never recovered. Never
relocated. Did not notice a bridge
to #18. And ended up losing over 30
minutes and ultimately the entire event
due to that 5 second encounter.
I wish I had stopped and held your hand
to the 16th control. WE BOTH would
have been the better.
My apologies,
Pat
PS Move the Billy Pig to a date we can all enjoy.
Matt Bond:
Did you go around to the road or did
you end up being washed into the
reservoir? I first intended to cross
it off the large spur from 17 to
18, but after looking at the current (class
4 or 5 rapids) decided to
backtrack a bit to the bridge.
I did cross the little stream heading
to 24. It looked very crossable,
so I waded in. Almost half way across
I was up to my waist (your
shoulders), and at that point the current
took me and I was up to my
neck in the 40 degree water. I swam
the rest of the way across, and
really chilled every extremity. I didn't
warm up until I put dry
clothes on and was almost home.
16th control?? So that's why you
were heading in such a strange
direction when I saw you. At the time
I was relocating after missing my
first attack on the 16th control.
I think Mike Kearns would have liked it, as he's told me he likes primal O' conditions.
Pat Meehan:
When I saw you near that spur I was still
trying to figure out where I was.
I was very shocked to have lying before me
this huge valley and rip roaring
stream. I had, just minutes before,
run into an uncharted lake; haha, now
this. What was next? I finally
found #17 and then searched for a suitable
crossing point of the raging river.
None was to be found until I exited the
park at some country road. This was
had only after scrambling through fight
that was rather undocumented.
I can appreciate your near succumbing
to hypothermia. I had an encounter
with the very small stream at #22. I
(we) had to cross the stream and there
was no bridge. It was too far across
for me to jump; what, maybe 6 feet or
more. I just stepped into it thinking
I would step back out of the other
side. "not going to happen". I
no sooner than stepped into the little
booger, (it was above the knees), than I was
knocked down by the force of
the water. (30 inches of water moving 10 miles
per hour at about 40 degrees
can overcome this fellow). Of course,
it was after 3 hours of strenuous
travel. I could feel all of my body
heat being sucked away in double time.
It was all I could do to fight my way back
upright and CLIMB out of the d**n
thing. There was NO WAY I would have
attempted the "little stream to 24" as
you did. You are lucky you made it across
before you went numb. (or did
you?)
God, that was a GREAT day to O!!
Happy Holidays to you all.
Matt Bond:
Not really numb, but definitely well
retreated and shriveled. After
getting out of the cold water I too would
have to use the magnifying
lens on my compass.
Carl Sack:
I would definately say that Matt is nuts.
Then again, I seem to remember trying
to swim across a finger of the lake from 5-7b,
so don't take that comment too
seriously ;-)
Pat - I suppose I forgive you, even though
you made me lose about five minutes
allowing Mike to get ahead of me and me to
see him at just such a location where
I percieved him as being far ahead and got
demoralized and therefore contributed
to my dnfing. Don't expect too much sympathy
on you ruined time, though.
As far as the dates go, how about a compromise - say early or mid November, as soon as possible after cross country season.
Mike Minium:
I've enjoyed reading all the comments
about the race. I had my own ups
and downs... a couple of my favorites:
Going from 3 to 4 along the lake shore,
I over-shot the sucker. As I
angled back to it, I watched Carl Sack and
Matt Bond doggedly follow in my
footsteps. Hah, that'll teach you to
follow me!
11 to 15... the chase with Pat Meehan
and Carl Sack. We were back and
forth all through that section... sometimes
taking different routes,
sometimes not...
The halfway stop. Pat and Carl
hit it a few steps ahead of me. They
also got out before I could get my glasses
dried off and pursue. Going
across the spillway, I could see them ahead,
and it felt like I was getting
closer because the steep uphill slowed them
down. Pat was up first, then
Carl. When I crested the hill, I saw
Carl way to my right and guessed he was
going to try to follow the fences. I
decided to aim straight for the control
and try to save a few steps. Halfway
to the control, I heard Pat shout
something to Carl off to my right. I
couldn't see them through the woods,
but I realized with a thrill that I could
beat them to the control. Seconds
later, I saw the control, I could not see
them ahead of me, and I ran in and
punched. I was away again, glancing
over my shoulder, expecting to see them
following me into the control, but they were
nowhere in sight. I was elated.
I hit 17 fast and was on my way back
north to the bridge before I saw
either again; I think it was Carl and he was
headed for 17, a good minute or
so behind me.
Unbeknownst to me, when Pat shouted,
he had already been to 16 and was
doing his 180 error away from it. Had
it not been for his deception, Carl
would doubtless have been into the control
with or ahead of me.
Meanwhile, I was determined to push hard
and widen my lead, and as I
approached 19B was when Carl next spotted
me... he was probably only 300 to
500 meters of open ground behind me, but down
that long pipe-line
right-of-way, it looked so far that it served
to push him over the edge.
Control 24. After going way upstream
and out to Oregonia Road and having
spent at least 15 minutes fighting slowly
through a couple hundred meters of
sodden thickets, I was thoroughly demoralized.
Seeing Pat again at 24 was
like a breath of fresh air. I was back
in the race. Just seeing Pat and
realizing that I might still be able to beat
him gave me an incredible burst
of energy. Apparently it had the opposite
effect on Pat; from there to the
finish I walked away from him.
I couldn't believe Aaron Rourke and Joe
Garland. They were with the leaders
much of the race. They punched 25 a
hair ahead of me and by racing
diagonally down the hill, I managed to come
along side of them as we started
up the final big hill. It was the closest
I would come to them from there to
the finish. I was sure that with the
two of them together, once I got up the
hill, I could walk them down. It wasn't
to be. They widened the gap all the
way to the finish.
Anyway, if you've read this far, a couple parting thoughts:
1. What did everyone think of the new
controls we used for the Billy Pig,
the ones with the blue stripe? (Steve,
how did they hold up, or did they all
melt or wash away?)
2. Let's talk turkey about date for next
year. I think the idea of sometime
in November is a good one. We can put
a different local meet on the weekend
with Germantown to make a regional meet if
we want. Of course a big part
rests with Steve, who has volunteered to meet
direct again... moving into mid
or late Nov might be a problem for him.
Keep the thoughts coming.
The First Billy Pig
December 18, 1999
Hueston Woods State Park, Oxford,
Ohio
Director: Joel Rauschenbach
The Billy Pig
14.52 km, 24 controls
2:46:18 OCIN
Pat Meehan
2:50:48 OCIN
Tom Murphy
3:02:46 COO
Bob Huebner
3:42:12 OCIN
Carl Sack (1st junior)
Bill Swift
The Piglet
7.73 km, 13 controls
1:41:13 OCIN
Tom Kopp
1:57:06 OCIN
Steve Vaughan
2:06:34 COO
Janice Huebner (1st junior, 1st female)
2:29:30 OCIN
Erick Lebreton
3:21:30 OCIN
Ellie Kennedy
Bob Frey
Highlights
Carl Sack lost time on
a mis-placed control on a split leg. Nobody else
chose that split. Erick Lebreton visited
both of the split controls.
The weather was pleasant
and dry.